Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. It's a great pleasure to be introducing the Legislation (Wales) Bill for the National Assembly for Wales’s consideration. This is a significant moment in the evolution of our legislature because, for the first time, we are introducing legislation that relates to the law itself. The purpose of the Bill is to make Welsh law more accessible, more clear and...
Jeremy Miles: Well, the Member is correct—the European Court of Justice heard this reference yesterday morning, in a four-hour hearing, with all 28 justices hearing the matter. It's obviously a very significant point. As it happens, the UK Government's position in that litigation is that this is a hypothetical, because they have no intention of revoking it, and counsel for the EU made the representation...
Jeremy Miles: The case raises an important question about the ability, or otherwise, to revoke article 50, which should be answered, to ensure that a fully informed decision can be taken on the withdrawal agreement and political declaration on the future relationship reached between the UK Government and the European Union, or in the catastrophic case of a 'no deal' outcome.
Jeremy Miles: Well, can I associate myself with the comments the Member makes in her question? We have been making representations to the Ministry of Justice in relation to this point in particular. She will want to know that the data that the Ministry of Justice has made available indicates a dramatic fall in legal aid provision in Wales, with 2,440 fewer civil representations in the last year than in...
Jeremy Miles: We have drawn to the attention of the Ministry of Justice a number of technical issues that could prevent or deter people from using the Legal Aid Agency’s online system. But the wider problem here is, of course, the hugely detrimental effect on access to justice of the UK Government’s cuts to legal aid.
Jeremy Miles: To date, I have made no representation on behalf of the Welsh Government regarding the legal obligation of local authorities in relation to regional education consortia.
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for that question. As he will know, local authorities retain their statutory responsibilities and accountability for school performance, and the regional consortia don't change their principal statutory accountability in relation to that, and that underpins their relationships with other local authorities. Regional consortia are, at the end of the day, if you like, joint...
Jeremy Miles: I was pleased to be invited by the Member to the legal tech round-table a couple of weeks ago. It was an important opportunity to explore what is a very significant change in the legal professional services sector in Wales. I, myself, as I mentioned that morning, have met with a number of law firms across Wales since becoming Counsel General and I would say that wherever they are in Wales and...
Jeremy Miles: The Government recognises the importance of the legal sector in Wales, not least because a resilient and flourishing sector would underpin any new jurisdictional arrangements that may emerge from the work of the Commission on Justice in Wales. We are looking again at how best to support the sector, and that includes commissioning a piece of advisory work that would be potentially broad...
Jeremy Miles: Thank you to the Member for that further question. The legislative framework sets out the minimum requirements and responsibilities of local authorities to advertise. It has to be done close to the area and in a newspaper and, on top of that, flexibility is available for local authorities to expand the advertising that’s done for plans such as these. It’s a responsibility on them to...
Jeremy Miles: The law in this matter is quite clear. The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Wales) Order 2012 requires applications for planning permission to be publicised by local planning authorities. They are required to maintain a public register of applications, and detailed guidance is contained in the development management manual.
Jeremy Miles: Certainly.
Jeremy Miles: Well, the Member will have heard me say in my speech that, despite the investment in support services, there is still a mountain to climb and that remains our position. We recognise that, whilst the work we are doing is having an impact, there is more that we can and we must do, and that is reflected, I think, in the contribution that I made at the start in my opening remarks. We don't yet...
Jeremy Miles: Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. I'd like to thank Assembly Members for participating in the debate, which has clearly demonstrated why it's important that the Equality and Human Rights Commission continues to have a strong and distinct presence in Wales. Most of the contributions started from the premise that a society based on equality and human rights was a given, even if we may approach it from...
Jeremy Miles: The UK's exit from the European Union continues to bring uncertainty, not least in relation to equality and human rights, and we'll be debating those issues in more detail tomorrow. In these challenging times, the commission's work remains vital, and I again thank the Wales team and their colleagues around the UK for the advice and evidence they provided to our joint committee's report on...
Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate today on the Wales committee of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's annual report for the year 2017-2018. The review was launched earlier today in the Assembly with the UN rapporteur on poverty and human rights, and with the Chair of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee,...
Jeremy Miles: I want to thank the Wales committee and the staff of the EHRC, including those who are here today in the public gallery, not just for the report but for the hard work they do to promote equality and human rights in Wales. I recognise that this includes the commission's responsibility to 'shine a light on uncomfortable truths', to quote the commissioner in Wales, Dr June Milligan. During the...
Jeremy Miles: The Member makes a very important point. I, in fact, met this morning with officials to discuss this topic, amongst other topics in fact, and it's clear, as I hinted at in my initial answer, that the challenge and opportunity of technology is felt across the sector, although, admittedly in different ways, in different parts of the sector, as you would expect. He mentioned the question of...
Jeremy Miles: I've met with a number of law firms across Wales over the past six months and, whilst their take-up and interest in new digital technologies necessarily varies, it's clear that all of them see the opportunities to improve productivity and enhance their specialist knowledge and their skills. The utilisation of tech and innovation within the legal sector is very welcome.
Jeremy Miles: Thank you for that question. I would just like to echo the fact that I think that, in bringing that case to the Supreme Court, Unison, who I know she previously worked for, was doing a great public service, and it was clear that the introduction of those tribunal fees had the effect of suppressing great numbers of injustices and their ability to be resolved. So we have seen, since the...
